Precepting: A Whole New World

Barbara Keating, MS, RN-BC and Casey O. Benedetto, MSN, RN, CPN Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago | 225 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Teaching Strategies

Needs Assessment

A needs assessment was completed by 498 nurses. Questions on the

role of the preceptor, type of precepting, level of precepting experience

and precepting challenges were asked.

The needs assessment showed that over half of the nurses that

responded had never attended a preceptor class.

Nurses stated the most difficult aspects of precepting were:

• Not knowing what the orientee has done with another preceptor

• Letting the orientee assume responsibility for skills and patient

assignments

• Knowing what to do when an orientee is not progressing

Preceptor Workshop and Online Curriculum

The centralized Preceptor Workshop introduces nurses to their role as a

preceptor using a blended learning approach. Nurses complete online

preceptor modules on:

• Roles and responsibilities of a preceptor

• Adult learning principles

• Giving and receiving feedback

The online modules are the foundation for the content in the four hour

workshop. Nurses receive contact hours for both the online and face-to-

face components of the workshop.

Department-Based Preceptor Classes

Department-based preceptor classes are held to support distinct needs

and build on the content from the Preceptor Workshop.

Department-based classes focus on:

• Expectations of the preceptor role

• Consistency in preceptor practice

• Teaching specific to the department’s

patient population

Online Preceptor Articles

The online articles are an added element to the Preceptor Program.

These articles are based on what the preceptors identified on the needs

assessment as the most difficult aspects of precepting.

Preceptor Simulations

The preceptor simulations were added to the Preceptor Program to

provide additional opportunities for ongoing preceptor education and to

address the communication and feedback challenges identified in the

needs assessment.

The preceptor program at Lurie Children’s was transitioned from nurses

receiving premium pay to a clinical ladder model. The ADVANCE

(Advancement Development and Validation of Achievement in Nursing

Clinical Excellence) Program seeks to sustain the clinical practice and

professional growth of clinical nurses in direct patient care. The program

acknowledges and rewards nurses who choose to improve their

professional practice and clinical skills. With this transition came the

opportunity to improve preceptor education and to further develop nurse

preceptors in their role.

The preceptor program contributes to the development of preceptors from

novice to expert, based on Benner’s framework. Teaching strategies

included the continuation of a centralized preceptor workshop which

includes an online preceptor curriculum. Newly implemented teaching

strategies include department-based preceptor classes, online preceptor

articles and preceptor simulations. In addition, a Preceptor Committee has

been newly formed as part of the Clinical Governance structure.

Background Preceptor Committee

Each preceptor learning activity was evaluated using one of the following

methods:

• Completion of online evaluations

• Post-test assessments

• Debriefings

Attendance at the Preceptor Workshop became mandatory in order to

complete the preceptor menu item in the ADVANCE Program after Winter

2014. The program was measured for success by tracking the number of

nurses who attended the Preceptor Workshop and who promoted in the

ADVANCE Program using the preceptor menu item.

Since implementing this change, the number of participants in both the

Preceptor Workshop and those using the preceptor menu item for promotion

have significantly increased.

Summary

Transitioning preceptor education into the ADVANCE Program provided

the opportunity to examine the current state of precepting. This resulted

in enhanced programming to support preceptors, increased participation

in all elements of preceptor education and has contributed to the

development of highly capable preceptors.

The Preceptor Committee was formed to provide a network of support for

preceptors and to drive the standards of precepting practice. This

committee is part of the Clinical Governance structure and will disseminate

current evidence, tools and trends in precepting at the organizational and

departmental levels.

Outcomes

2 3

9

0

2

4

6

8

10

Winter 2014 Summer 2014 Winter 2015

ADVANCE Promotional Files & Annual Bonus

8

4

9 10 9

14 11

17 15

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

January April July October

Preceptor Workshop Attendance

2013

2014

2015